Bulbophyllum spathipetalum J.J.Sm., Bull. Dép. Agric. Indes Néerl. 19 (1908) 9
Type: Versteeg 1548
Rhizome creeping, short. Pseudobulbs close together, oblong-ovoid, with attenuate apex, with several longitudinal grooves, 1.6 by 0.75 cm; 1-leaved. Leaf petiolate, lanceolate, acuminate, very acute, 5 cm long; above on both sides of the mid-vein convex, mid-vein grooved above, keeled below; petiole channelled-conduplicate, 0.9 cm long. Inflorescences 1-leaved, numerous, fasciculate, from the nodes of the rhizome, 4 cm long; peduncle filiform with c. 2 tubular, acuminate peduncle-scales. Floral bracts cup-shaped, subulate-acuminate, 0.35 cm long. Flowers 1.5 cm wide. Median sepal about horizontal, lanceolate, very sharply acuminate, concave, 0.88 by 0.26 cm; apex recurved; nerves 3, prominent outside. Lateral sepals diverging, oblong, subfalcate, obtuse, apiculate, convex, 0.97 by 0.4 cm. Petals spathulate, obtuse, 1-nerved, 0.26 cm long; blade suborbicular, 0.18 cm wide. Lip mobile, curved, tongue-shaped, obtuse, fleshy, 0.3 cm long; base channelled; apex convex; papillose underneath. Column 0.2 cm long; stelidia subulate, shorter than the anther; stigma obovate, deeply hollow; column-foot almost at right angles to the ovary, slightly incurved, to the apex narrowed, obtuse, below the stigma swollen, 0.2 cm long. Anther hood-shaped; connective strongly keeled; apex shortly acuminate; thecae small. Pollinia 4, laterally compressed, ovate, 0.05 cm long; the inner ones smaller. Ovary 6-angular, 6-grooved, minutely verruculose-pitted, 0.26 cm long; pedicel slender 1.1 cm long. (After Smith, 1909)
Colours: Inflorescence green. Floral bract turning brown. Sepals orange, white at the base. Petals translucent violet with dark violet midrib. Lip white underneath, orange above, with a narrow violet margin. Ovary yellowish green with red-brown ribs?; pedicel yellowish white.
Habitat: Epiphyte in lowland forest.
Flowering time in the wild: August.
Distribution: Malesia (New Guinea).
Distribution in New Guinea: Papua (Indonesia); see map 96-1729M.jpg.
Cultivation: Warm growing epiphyte.